Multiple header feedwater heater



July 2, 1968 R. R. Nor- MULTIPLE HEADER FEEDWATER HEATER 2 'sheets-sheet 1 Filed April 22. 1966 2r vanu- 4 encon www I I n ilolauann. aus. nonna 00000 rhuuwvs lun? aan non. nu Wenen-annuo annu..

RENATO R. NOE

July 2, 19.68 R. R. Nor;

MULTIPLE HEADER FEEDWATER HEATR 2 Sheets-Sheet 2 Filed April 22. 1966 R E N ATO R N O E INVENTOR.

FIG-.7

United States Patent O 3,390,721 MULTIPLE HEADER FEEDWATER MATER Renato R. Noe, Union City, NJ., assigner to Worthington Corporation, Harrison, NJ., a corporation of Delaware Filed Apr. 22, 1966, Ser. No. 544,497 6 Claims. (Cl. 16S- 111) ABSTRACT OF THE DISCLOSURE A multiple header feedwater heater having inclined, bifurcated, distribution and collection headers for the passage of feedwater. through the heater. Each distribution and collection header is connected in fluid iow communication to a plurality of horizontal sub-headers. Each distribution sub-header is connected to a corresponding collection sub-header by a plurality of U-shaped tubes.

This invention relates generally -to heat exchange apparatus, and particularly to a feedwater heater of the multiple header type.

It is an object of the invention to provide -a feedwater heater of the multi-pass type which can withstand temperature variations without deterioration.

Another object of the invention is to provide a feedwater heater which is not subject to high pressure drops on the tube side.

Another object of the invention is to provide a feedwater heater of the multi-pass type which does not require high pressure closures or a thick tube sheet.

A. still further object of the invention is to provide ra high pressure feedwater heater of a multiple header type, which is relatively inexpensive and durable.

A still further object of the invention is to provide a high pressure feedwater heater of the mul-tiple header type, which 4does not require a de-superheater shroud.

Among the further objects of the invention is to provide la feedwater heater of the multiple header type, whose components `are not severely stressed with changes in the thermal and pressure conditions.

Among the still further objects of the invention is to provide a feedwater heater of the multiple header type, which is not frequently subject .to costly shutdown due to failure, and is easily repaired by reason of the ready accessibility of the component parts.

Yet another object of the invention is to provide a feedwater heater of the multiple header type which does not require very thick tube sheets, but is very compact and reliable.

Yet a still further object of the invention is to provide a high pressure feedwater heater of the multiple header type equipped with superior thermo-dynamic and design characterisitics.

Yet another object of the invention is to provide a feedwater heater which uses multiple individual headers, each serving one row of tubes, rather than a single tube sheet serving all tubes.

A still further object of the invention is to provide a feedwater heater which has multiple headers on the inlet side and corresponding multiple headers on the outlet side, each of which is fed or feeds la single distribution header.

Yet another object of the invention is to provide a feedwater heater in which heat transfer occurs over the entire flow path of the feedwater, from entry to exit.

Yet still a further object of the invention is to provide a feedwater heater which can be constructed with assembly of the tube bundle preceding the installation of the bafdes and tube supports.

3,390,721 Patented July 2, `1968 Fice A still further object of the invention is to provide a feedwater heater with improved tube welds.

Yet another object of the invention is to provide -a feedwater heater with increased ligament for tube welds.

Feedwater heaters have been in use, and have incorporated tube sheets and high pressure closures, but their reliability has not been of the highest order. They have required la very heavy construction and they eventually succumb to thermal and pressure stresses.

Newer designs of equipment demand steam at higher temperature and pressure, thereby making greater and greater demands upon feedwater heaters, subjecting them to greater :and greater stresses. In the absence of improved designs, vast increases in heaviness of construction would have been required, in order to resist the greater thermal and pressure stresses. The present invention obviates the necessity for such heavier constructions.

It has been found that an inclined distribution header and a correspondingly inclined collection header could be arranged, each of which would feed or collect water from a plurality of horizontal, staggered, tube row headers. These tube row headers could be connected to each other by intimately disposed U-shaped tubes extending in a bunch throughout the length of the casing.

The use of multiple headers arranged in staggered pitched relation provides extremely compact disposition of the tubes, ease in Welding the tubes to the multiple headers, minimizing thermal and pressure stresses. The installations of baffles and tube supports of the grid type after the tube bundle is assembled and the use of a submerged long subcooling Zone without the need of a subcooling shroud is also a feature of the design. The barform of multiple header provides a strong construction that Withstands pressures of 5,000 p.s.i.g. or even more, with strong joints, and provides a at surface `for easy drilling, aligning and welding. The tube` row headers being positioned on an incline, and being fed alternately from the bifurcated, inclined distribution header, makes possible extremely close pitch. The use of the staggered feeding pipe manifolds not only for distribution, but for collection, enables a very compact assembly. The use of multiple tube row headers enables increased spacing between tube connections with accompanying improvement in selection and quality of tube welds. Thin tubes are welded to correspondingly thin members, and there is no requirement that a thin tube be welded to a relatively thick tube sheet. Elimination of Ithe tube sheet and high pressure closure in the design enables heating of the feedwater from its point of entry to its point of exit from the feedwater heater. In the present construction, sub-assemblies may be completed by welding their individual components together, and then they may be incorporated in the final assembly. All welds are at all times accessible for repairs, and the sub-assemblies may be individually tested for freedom from defects, without the necessity for testing the entire assembly. After final assembly, any defects discovered may be easily repaired or the defective tubes or welds replaced. The feedwater heater devised in accordance with the present invention is reliable, durable and relatively easy to construct, maintain or repair.

By way of illustration of the invention, there is Shown in the drawings:

FIGURE 1 is an elevation-al view of the heater;

'FIGURE 2 is a fragmentary side View of the heater, partly broken away to show distribution headers in their respective inclined positions;

FIGURE 3 is a fragmentary top View of the heater with the upper shell removed, showing the collection header;

FIGURE 4 is an end view of the heater shell partly broken away;

y FIGURE 5 s a side view of -a multiple header;

FIG-URIE`6 is a cross-sectional View taken on the lines 6 6 of FIGURE 5; and

FIGURE 7 is anend View of the multiple header. 'Referring now to the'drawings in detail,` there is provided a casing 1I whichhas a plurality of bottomy sup'- ports 212. The casing vis tubular', with a bulbous enlargement -13 at one end. This enlargement has a tubular'feedwater inlet lclcommunicating with abifurcated, inclined distribution header 1S extending upwardly toward 'the end 'ofthe enlargement 13 and toward the central longitudinal axis'of the casing. The distribution header 15`fc'ommunicateswith alternate oppositeV feed-lines- 16 extending'in a horizontal direction. Each'of the feeding lines 16 feed into numerous bottom multiple headers 17, which are generally elongated boxes having a 4somewhat rectangular or square vertical cross-section area; Each multiple header 17 feeds a plurality'of tubes 18. These tubes extendy'upwardly and then `bend at an angle of 90, extending"out of the enlargement 13 toward the opposite end ofthe tu- 'bular portion of thel casing'll. T he tubes -18 are disposed iri general p'arallelismw'ith each other Vand with the casing. Atthe end thereof, they change direction by reason of a U-shaped bend, still each in general parallelism with the other, and in general parallelism with the convex end 19 of the casing 11. Having accomplished a 180 change in direction, the tubes 18 extend bac-k into the bulb-ous enlargement 13 of the casing 11. There, they once more make a 90 bend in order to extend upwardly to connect to a plurality of top multiple headers 20, substantially identically disposed with and in conformity to the bottom multiple headers `17. These top multiple headers 20 are connected by short feeding lines 21, with` a collection header 22, which is bifurcated and substantially identical with the distribution header 415, disposed at an acute angle to the horizontal in general correspondence with the distribution header 15. By this arrangement, as is thevcase with the distribution header 15, the collection header can be fed from a plurality of top multiple headers 20,'feeding alternately to each other to the collection header 20, and, also, disposed in staggered relation to each other, so that the greatest possible number of tubes `18 can be incorporated into a relatively small compact bunch. The collection header 22 is inclined downwardly toward the end of the enlargement 13 and toward the central longitudinal axis of the casing 11. The collection header communi- Cates with a feed-water outlet 23 in the casing 11. vThe tubes 1-8 extending from the distribution header 15 are separated into two sections by a horizontal division plate 24, which is approximately positioned so as to divide the lower hal'fof the casing -11 into two approximately equal parts. The horizontal division plate does not extend all the way to the end -19 of the casing 1'1, but merely to the point Where the tubes 1S are U-shaped. The horizontal division plate 24, at the point Where it is in general alignment with the center of the bulbous enlargement 13, bends in a downward direction, and extends to the bottom of the bulbous enlargement 13. The feedwater heater is intended to operate with a liquid level just above the horizontal division plate 24, as shown in FIG. 2.

The tubes 18, which extend back into the vbulbous enlargement 13 after they have accomplished the U-shaped bend, are all separated from those tubes 18 which extend outwardly from the multiple headers 17 below the central longitudinal axis of the casing 11, by a horizontal division plate 25', which divides the casing 11 and the bulbous enlargement 13 horizontally into two generally equal upper and lower sections that communicate with each other only at the end 19 beyond the plate 25, which does not reach to the end `19. The plate 25 terminates a short distance beyond the bulbous enlargement -13 and is intended primarily to'maintain the lower half of the bulbous enlarge! ment 1-3 as a separate zone from the upper half of the bulbous enlargement 13.

4 It is 'to be noted in FIGUREZ that the placement oi the bottom multiple lheaders 17 andthe top`mltiple headers 20 can be easily arranged at -close'pitch'ina plane inclined upwardly, thereby permitting the attachment of horizontalrow above row of tubes 18, which are incorporated into'a very` compact bundle. The tubes-18 are thereby susceptible to`be arranged symmetrically innumerous horizontal rows in a compact mass, thereby permitting the casing to be of relatively sm'all circumference.- This is especially possible positioning thedistribution header 15 and the collection header 22 in an inclined manner, and connecting 'the'multiple headers17, 20, alternatelyto the opposite sides of the bifurcated distribution header .15 and collection header 22, as Well asarranging those multiple headers 17, 20 in alternate staggered relation .above and below'each other, asis shown in FIGfZ. Y

As shown yin FIGURES-5, 6 and 7,the cross-sectional area of: the multiple headers 17, 20'is generally rectangular andthe headers are longitudinally elongated-bars or boxesf-'Th'ey' may be thus strong 'enough to withstand pressures of 5,00() Y'p'.s.i;g. or'more. They canv provide adequate wmetal for ligament and re-enforcement, 'andf` they provide a flat surface'V for ease in drilling, --aligning and welding. Ease of fabrication and lowcost is the result. The feeder lines 16"and 21 emanating from alternate opposite ysides of the distribution header 15 and the collection header 22,'and the' bifurcated construction-of those headers 15, 22, allows more space for the multiple headers 17,20: "t It is also to be noted that the tube 18 and the multiple headers 17, 20 may be easily welded together by reason of their dimensionabcompatibility. There is'vnorequirement for welding thin tubes 18 to heavy tube sheets, as is usually required in 'conventional feedwater heaters. Relatively wide spacing of 'tubes 18 on headers 17, 20-permit joining'the tubes to the headers with welding techniques, such as socket welds 40 shown in FIGURE 6, which-would be impractical for joining tubes to tube-,sheets linl conventional feedwater heaters. Tubes, headers and heating pipes may be preassembled prior to iinal assembly. Individual sub-assemblies can be separately tested with hydrostatic test on the tube-r side, to full test pressure, before `iinal assernblyl of the. heater. All welds are easily accessible,and may be readily repaired if defects are-discoveredbefore final assembly, during the test. All welds can be accomplished in accordance withrA.S.\M.-E. -standards and will inevitably be more reliable than tube sheet welds of conventional design feed-water heaters. A- singleV assembly, comprisingr one bottom multiple header 17, and one top multiple header 20, interconnected by agroup of side tubes 18, may be preassembled and tested for pressure and thermal stability, before being connected to the collection header 22 and the distribution header 15.l Combination inletI and outlet preassemblies are thereby assured as to satisfactory performance- =In actualuse, they are notsubjected to the-stresses vwhich contribute to the failure of a tube sheet supplying all tubes. In addition, preassembly fabricationfacilitates using baffles 38 and tube supports 39-of aY grid type construction, which can be installed during or after assembly of the tube bundle, further simplifying construction of the feedwater heater. The remaining features of the casing 11 are conventional. There-is provided-a drip inlet 31, startup vents 32, safety-valves 33, steam inlet 34, manholes 35, drains 36, and condensation outlet 37.-

The foregoing description is merely intended to illustrate-an embodiment of the invention. The component parts have been shown and described. They each may have substitutes which may perform a substantially similar function; such substitutes may be known vas proper substitutes for the said components andV may have actuallyl been known or invented before the present invention; these substitutes are contemplated as being within the scope of the appended claims, although they are not specifically catalogued herein.

What is claimed:

1. A feedwater heater comprising:

(a) a casing;

(b) a steam inlet at the top of the casing;

(c) a condensation outlet at the bottom of the casing;

(d) a feedwater inlet at the bottom of the casing;

(e) a feedwater outlet at the top of the casing;

(f) the inlet communicating with a bifurcated distribution header;

(g) the outlet communicating with a bifurcated collection header;

(h) multiple headers communicating with the distribution header, disposed transversely to and inter mediate the bifurcations thereof and in staggered relation to each other;

(i) multiple headers communicating with the collection header, disposed transversely to and intermediate the bifurcations thereof and in staggered relation to each other;

(j) a bunch of elongated tubes extending through the casing in general parallelism with each other;

(k) each tube connected at one end to a multiple header of the distribution header, and at the other end to a multiple header of the collection header;

(l) the distribution header and the collection header inclined with respect to the bunch of elongated tubes; (m) means to direct steam from the steam inlet through the casing over the tubes.

2. A feedwater heater comprising:

(a) the device according to claim 1; and

(b) the multiple headers communicating with the collection header and also those connected to the distribution header being connected by feeder lines alternately to opposite legs of the bifurcated collection header, and the bifurcated distribution header.

3. A feedwater heater comprising:

(a) the device according to claim 1; and

(b) both the tubes and the multiple headers formed of material having substantially the same wall thickness.

4. A feedwater heater comprising:

(a) the device according to claim 1; and

(b) a bulbous enlargement at one end of the casing to accommodate the collection, distribution and multiple headers.

5. A feedwater heater comprising:

(a) the device according to claim 1;

(b) the distribution headers inclination being upwardly at one end of the casing;

(c) the collection headers inclination being downwardly toward the same end of the casing;

(d) the distribution header and collection header being disposed in general symmetry with each other above and below the longitudinal axis of the casing.

6. A feedwater heater comprising:

(a) the device according to claim 1; and

(b) the means to direct the steam being in part, a horizontal division plate extending from one end of the casing toward the other, generally at the longitudinally axis of the casing, and in part separating the tubes from the distribution header from the tubes to the collection header.

References Cited UNITED STATES PATENTS 1,883,605 10/1932 Davy 165-40 1,884,778 10/1932 Luke et al 165-145 3,035,818 5/1962 Gregorig 165-145 3,101,930 8/1963 Huet 165-145 X FOREIGN PATENTS 1,066,210 10/1959 Germany.

ROBERT A. OLEARY, Primary Examiner.

A. W. DAVIS, Assistant Examiner, 

